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Dave Simpson (soccer)
Encyclopedia
David Anthony Simpson Knight (born January 11, 1983 in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
) is a Canadian footballer who is semi- retired due to Stargardt Eye Disease.
. A club known for creating such talents as Julian de Guzman
, formerly of Deportivo de La Coruña
, and Jonathan De Guzman
of Feyenoord. The team was extremely successful and was granted an invitation to the famed Welsh International Super Cup, formerly known as the Ian Rush
Tournament. In the summer of 1997 (NSSC) took part in the Tournament and won their age group. Simpson was named Golden Boot Winner with a staggering 14 goals in 5 matches, landing him second only to Michael Owen
for all time record holder.
The success of the Ian Rush tournament handed Simpson a tryout with Southampton of the Premier League. He would continue to play with North Scarborough until he was 17.
) proved to be what he needed. The dedication to Total Football and concentration on technique and fitness set them apart from all the other clubs in Toronto. It took a very professional approach in its structuring, training methods, and presentation. The decision to join would pay off when in 2001 P.S.A traveled to Stuttgart
, Germany
for international exposure and experience. Simpson performed well against the German side, impressing the coach of VfB Stuttgart
enough to play with them for the second half. After a brief trial with VfB Stuttgart U19 side, he signed later on that summer and remained with them till the end of 2001.
He started his professional career at the age of 20, when he signed a lengthy deal with the Manchester United F.C.
farm team, and Belgium first division side Royal Antwerp FC. The deal was set to run till 2005 but troubles arose when the club went through financial difficulty, causing him to leave in the summer of 2002.
He signed with Hamilton Thunder
of the Canadian Soccer League
that same summer, clinched the League Title. Contract disputes forced him to miss the 2004 season.
In 2005 he signed with the Toronto Lynx
in the USL First Division
. There he became a fan favorite often chatting with fans, and the media. After impressing with the Lynx he took another chance and left for Europe again and signed with Lombard-Pápa TFC
in the Borsodi Liga in 2006, where he continued to impress.
Lombard-Pápa TFC
improved from six points at winter break, to 24 by the end of the season. Despite his efforts at the end of the 2006 season, Lombard-Pápa was relegated. Dave was sold and signed with Czech giants AC Sparta Prague in the summer of 2006 as one of the biggest Hungarian transfer deals that summer at 352.000 £.
for 154.000 £ till winter break to gain more experience of the Czech league.
He had an impressive start with SK Kladno scoring in his second game. Playing as an offensive midfielder Simpson supplied the Kladno offense with more opportunities on goal.. In a game against FK Teplice, he suffered a horrible head injury which saw him leave on a stretcher. Later it was revealed he suffered a concussion. He missed all but one of the remaining games left in the half season. He came on as a substitute against Sparta to a standing ovation.
Due to the injury, Simpson only played 5 games with SK Kladno. Sparta saw it best to lengthen his loan till the end of the season.Kladno changed his position to a defensive midfield or central midfield role helping keep Kladno in the top division. In the summer of 2007, after playing with Kladno for 7 months he signed for two more years with AC Sparta Prague. Sparta qualified for the Champions League by winning the Czech Cup and league title.
After taking on his option Sparta failed to utilize the striker. Instead they sent him along with Jan Šimák
to the reserves. Eventually after 2007/2008 winter break he went on loan to FK SIAD Most
. Simpson was a starter until he suffered a car crash which kept him out of action for two more weeks. Simpson did not play the remainder of the games. Simpson was reportedly linked Nottingham Forest of the English Championship Division after a brief stay at the clubs grounds early May 2008.He broke his contract with Sparta in the summer of 2008.
He signed with Hungarian side Dunaújváros FC
. The official team site has already stated he will be leaving for a bigger team this winter transfer season. He finished as club top goal scorer. In February 2009 Dunaújváros folded as a club due to finances.
He joined Integrál-DAC
where he was expected to be transferred from. Instead Integrál-DAC
failed to come to an agreement with several clubs, and opted to keep Simpson till the summer transfer window. He finished his stay with 11 goals on the season, and top goal scorer.. Integrál-DAC
folded in the summer of 2009 leaving Simpson a free player.
.He became captain in May 2011. He stopped in early September 2011.
He was 25 years old when he won his first cap with Canada's senior team on 30 January 2008 (a 1:0 win over Martinique
).
n father Bovrell Simpson. His family tree dates back to African heritage.He was born in Toronto
, Ontario
and raised in North York.
In January 2011 he was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, or fundus flavimaculatus, it is a inherited
juvenile macular degeneration
that causes progressive vision loss
usually to the point of legal blindness. The progression usually starts between the ages of six and twelve years old and plateaus shortly after rapid reduction in visual acuity.
Dave and became a father on September 24, 2011 to daughter Jaya Simpson.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a Canadian footballer who is semi- retired due to Stargardt Eye Disease.
Early years
He began playing soccer with North Scarborough Soccer Club [N.S.S.C) in Scarborough, OntarioScarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
. A club known for creating such talents as Julian de Guzman
Julian de Guzmán
Julian de Guzman is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.Previously, he played for Deportivo de La Coruña, and was the first Canadian to play in the Spanish La Liga...
, formerly of Deportivo de La Coruña
Deportivo de La Coruña
Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is a professional football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia; founded in 1906 and currently playing in Segunda División...
, and Jonathan De Guzman
Jonathan de Guzmán
Jonathan Alexander de Guzmán is a Canadian-born footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and is currently playing for Villarreal CF....
of Feyenoord. The team was extremely successful and was granted an invitation to the famed Welsh International Super Cup, formerly known as the Ian Rush
Ian Rush
Ian James Rush, MBE, is a retired football player from Flint, Wales. He is best remembered as a player for Liverpool, where he was among the top strikers in the English game in the 1980s and 1990s. He also had spells playing at Chester City, Juventus, Leeds United, Newcastle United, Sheffield...
Tournament. In the summer of 1997 (NSSC) took part in the Tournament and won their age group. Simpson was named Golden Boot Winner with a staggering 14 goals in 5 matches, landing him second only to Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
for all time record holder.
The success of the Ian Rush tournament handed Simpson a tryout with Southampton of the Premier League. He would continue to play with North Scarborough until he was 17.
Professional career
The PSA (Mississauga Eagles FCMississauga Eagles FC
Mississauga Eagles FC are a Canadian professional soccer team founded in 2010 to begin play in the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of soccer in Canada, in 2011...
) proved to be what he needed. The dedication to Total Football and concentration on technique and fitness set them apart from all the other clubs in Toronto. It took a very professional approach in its structuring, training methods, and presentation. The decision to join would pay off when in 2001 P.S.A traveled to Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for international exposure and experience. Simpson performed well against the German side, impressing the coach of VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
enough to play with them for the second half. After a brief trial with VfB Stuttgart U19 side, he signed later on that summer and remained with them till the end of 2001.
He started his professional career at the age of 20, when he signed a lengthy deal with the Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
farm team, and Belgium first division side Royal Antwerp FC. The deal was set to run till 2005 but troubles arose when the club went through financial difficulty, causing him to leave in the summer of 2002.
He signed with Hamilton Thunder
Hamilton Thunder
The Hamilton Thunder were a soccer team located in Hamilton, Ontario, playing in the Western Conference of the Canadian Professional Soccer League....
of the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League (current)
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
that same summer, clinched the League Title. Contract disputes forced him to miss the 2004 season.
In 2005 he signed with the Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference....
in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. There he became a fan favorite often chatting with fans, and the media. After impressing with the Lynx he took another chance and left for Europe again and signed with Lombard-Pápa TFC
Lombard-Pápa TFC
Lombard-Pápa TFC is a Hungarian football club from the town of Pápa.- Honours :* NB II Nyugat:** Runners-up: 2008–09* UEFA Intertoto Cup:** Second Round: 2005- Current squad :-Out on loan:- UEFA Intertoto Cup :...
in the Borsodi Liga in 2006, where he continued to impress.
Lombard-Pápa TFC
Lombard-Pápa TFC
Lombard-Pápa TFC is a Hungarian football club from the town of Pápa.- Honours :* NB II Nyugat:** Runners-up: 2008–09* UEFA Intertoto Cup:** Second Round: 2005- Current squad :-Out on loan:- UEFA Intertoto Cup :...
improved from six points at winter break, to 24 by the end of the season. Despite his efforts at the end of the 2006 season, Lombard-Pápa was relegated. Dave was sold and signed with Czech giants AC Sparta Prague in the summer of 2006 as one of the biggest Hungarian transfer deals that summer at 352.000 £.
Czech Republic
Upon signing, David Simpson Knight became the first Canadian born player in history to be signed by the club. He played numerous friendly matches before being named to the squade. In September he was named to the roster for the UEFA Cup wearing #11.A coaching change five games into the season, along with a eventual ten player roster change saw Dave put on loan to his disappointment just one week before the UEFA Cup game against Scottish League giants Hearts. He was loaned to newly promoted SK KladnoSK Kladno
Sportovní klub Kladno, commonly known as SK Kladno or Kladno, is an football club from Kladno, Czech Republic. It was founded on February 15th 1903. The team plays at the Stadion Františka Kloze, named after legendary player of this club František Kloz...
for 154.000 £ till winter break to gain more experience of the Czech league.
He had an impressive start with SK Kladno scoring in his second game. Playing as an offensive midfielder Simpson supplied the Kladno offense with more opportunities on goal.. In a game against FK Teplice, he suffered a horrible head injury which saw him leave on a stretcher. Later it was revealed he suffered a concussion. He missed all but one of the remaining games left in the half season. He came on as a substitute against Sparta to a standing ovation.
Due to the injury, Simpson only played 5 games with SK Kladno. Sparta saw it best to lengthen his loan till the end of the season.Kladno changed his position to a defensive midfield or central midfield role helping keep Kladno in the top division. In the summer of 2007, after playing with Kladno for 7 months he signed for two more years with AC Sparta Prague. Sparta qualified for the Champions League by winning the Czech Cup and league title.
After taking on his option Sparta failed to utilize the striker. Instead they sent him along with Jan Šimák
Jan Šimák
Jan Šimák is a Czech footballer who plays for FC Carl Zeiss Jena. He is an attacking midfielder well known for his powerful shot and goalscoring from midfield.-Career:...
to the reserves. Eventually after 2007/2008 winter break he went on loan to FK SIAD Most
FK SIAD Most
FK Baník Most is a Czech football club based in the city of Most, approximately 75 kilometers north-west of Prague.The club's home stadium is Fotbalový stadion Josefa Masopusta....
. Simpson was a starter until he suffered a car crash which kept him out of action for two more weeks. Simpson did not play the remainder of the games. Simpson was reportedly linked Nottingham Forest of the English Championship Division after a brief stay at the clubs grounds early May 2008.He broke his contract with Sparta in the summer of 2008.
He signed with Hungarian side Dunaújváros FC
Dunaújváros FC
Dunaújváros FC was a football team from Dunaújváros, Hungary. Though they won the Hungarian NB I in 1999-2000, recently they played in the second league, until the team withdrew in March 2009, ceasing its operations....
. The official team site has already stated he will be leaving for a bigger team this winter transfer season. He finished as club top goal scorer. In February 2009 Dunaújváros folded as a club due to finances.
He joined Integrál-DAC
Integrál-DAC
DAC 1912 FC is a Hungarian football club based in Győr.-Current Team:As of May 17, 2009.-The Termination and bankruptcy:...
where he was expected to be transferred from. Instead Integrál-DAC
Integrál-DAC
DAC 1912 FC is a Hungarian football club based in Győr.-Current Team:As of May 17, 2009.-The Termination and bankruptcy:...
failed to come to an agreement with several clubs, and opted to keep Simpson till the summer transfer window. He finished his stay with 11 goals on the season, and top goal scorer.. Integrál-DAC
Integrál-DAC
DAC 1912 FC is a Hungarian football club based in Győr.-Current Team:As of May 17, 2009.-The Termination and bankruptcy:...
folded in the summer of 2009 leaving Simpson a free player.
Chonburi
In July 2010 Simpson was signed by Thai Premier League side Chonburi.He scored his first goal in his second game against Pattaya United.He now plays the Left Midfield position.He suffered an ankle injury during his second game and has been utilized sparingly as a substitute since.He made his return to the full team on Septerber 16th in a F.A Cup match against Pataya. Chonburi won the hai F.A Cup in 2010. On December 30, 2010 while in Canada it was discovered that Simpson played with torn ligaments in his right ankle for more than 2 months.Simpson retired due to injury.Mississauga Eagles FC
In April 2011 he signed for his home club Mississauga Eagles FCMississauga Eagles FC
Mississauga Eagles FC are a Canadian professional soccer team founded in 2010 to begin play in the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of soccer in Canada, in 2011...
.He became captain in May 2011. He stopped in early September 2011.
Style of play
Simpson is well known for using his strength and pace while running at players. He creating chances in offensive positions usually facing the goal. Though he has been trained as a striker, most of his success in Europe has been in the midfield as a winger, or offensive midfield. Throughout his career he is experienced in six different positions. Upon signing for Chonburi F.C, he moved to left midfield.Charity Games
On June 25, 2009 he played as part of Zinedine Zidane squad in friendly match versus the Canadian All-Stars. Zidane had a part in the tying goal during added time. He passed to his right to Simpson, who found Lewis in front of the goal for the tap in.International career
He is a former member of U17, U18, and U20 Canadian National Team, appeared in 4 matches scoring 1 goal in 2003. Played with the U20 National Team at the 2003 US Soccer Festival. He has recently been called into Men's National Team camps under two different coaches in the summer of 2006, and most recently to Miami in January 2007. In the summer of 2007, he was part of the player pool for the 2007 Gold Cup.He was 25 years old when he won his first cap with Canada's senior team on 30 January 2008 (a 1:0 win over Martinique
Martinique national football team
The Martinique national football team represents the French overseas department and region of Martinique in international football. The team is controlled by the Ligue de Football de la Martinique , a local branch of French Football Federation . On 7 August 2010, the national team adopted the...
).
Honours
Club- AC Sparta Prague:
- Gambrinus ligaGambrinus LigaThe Gambrinus liga is a Czech professional league for football clubs. At the top of the Czech football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 16 clubs, operating a system of promotion and relegation with the Czech 2. Liga. Seasons run from August to May,...
Championship: 2007 - Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Qualification in 2007 - Thailand FA CupThailand FA CupThe FA Cup is a football cup competition in Thailand. It was held between 1980 and 2001 until relaunched again in 2009. Bangkok Bank won the first two editions.In 2009 it was announced that the FA Cup would return to the Thai Football calendar...
Champions in 2010
- Gambrinus liga
Personal life
Simpson is the son of a Portuguese,and Bajan mother Ann Knight, and a JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n father Bovrell Simpson. His family tree dates back to African heritage.He was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and raised in North York.
In January 2011 he was diagnosed with Stargardt disease, or fundus flavimaculatus, it is a inherited
Heredity
Heredity is the passing of traits to offspring . This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some species to evolve...
juvenile macular degeneration
Macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a medical condition which usually affects older adults and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms. It is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older adults...
that causes progressive vision loss
Vision loss
Vision loss or visual loss is the absence of vision where it existed before, which can happen either acutely or chronically .-Ranges of vision loss:...
usually to the point of legal blindness. The progression usually starts between the ages of six and twelve years old and plateaus shortly after rapid reduction in visual acuity.
Dave and became a father on September 24, 2011 to daughter Jaya Simpson.
External links
- David s.k Canada Player Profile
- Transfermarkt.co.uk
- Career stats - Hungary and Czech Republic Teams
- MEFC Grand Finale video